Five reasons why working in media and PR is the best

Whether you were one of those children who put pen to paper before you could walk, or you had an uh-huh moment later in high school – chances are if you are reading this blog, you decided for one reason or another to work in the media industry.

First of all, congratulations! As I am sure you know already, you made a wise and wonderful choice.

We often hear about the stresses of working in media and PR. Let us not sugar coat anything here – like many jobs this industry has its fair share of ups and downs (if you find a job that doesn’t, let me know). But today, I am here to tell you why working in the media and PR industry is the best.

1. You learn a little about a lot

If you are a journalist, you never know what round or story you will end up covering on any given day. Or if you are in public relations, you never know who you will end up working for or what issue you will be dealing with. The result? A slow and steady collection of knowledge, my friend.

Since I started working as a journalist, I have learned more than ever. I could tell you fun facts about football, sharks, swimwear design or marionette theatre. You name it.

The beauty of this is you end up with not only a great general knowledge but, more importantly, some great work stories for dinner parties.

2. The fast-paced environment

With these jobs come deadlines, and unfortunately, with deadlines comes stress. But on the bright side, they also bring excitement! It may scare some people, but not the adrenalin-seeking, danger-hunting media warriors among us. We thrive off the fast pace and chaos, right? We know there is nothing like making a deadline by a hair, or getting hold of someone just in time.

There is no doubt, this industry takes a certain level of confidence and get-up-and-go attitude. It is not a career for wallflowers!

3. The back-stage pass

One of my personal favourites is the access to people and places, which you don’t find in other jobs. Ok, so it is not all glitz and glamour either, but more times than not, you may find yourself talking to some pretty amazing and interesting people. Whether it is the brains behind a new project, a celebrity or someone who has experienced something big – you might just be privileged enough to have first-hand access to that person and ask them questions. You also have an excuse to be nosy about it, which is even better.

4. The power of the pen

Ever heard of the Watergate scandal? Two Washington Post journalists exposed a corrupt US President. If that doesn’t bring this point home, I don’t know what will.

Being in the media, you have access to a unique and large forum which allows you to disseminate information to the public at large. This is not something to be taken lightly by any means! It brings the power to influence and the power to change. Go get ‘em tiger.

5. You get to write.

Most of us in this industry love to write and an ability to write well is crucial to the job, whether it be press releases, articles, blogs or social media content. We all know the soothing nature of sitting with a coffee and getting the words down (all grammatically correct, of course). There are few things better than getting paid for what you love.

So next time you are having one of those days, remember how lucky you are to be part of such a creative and interesting industry! After all, there must have been a reason you chose to do it in the first place.